Well it has indeed been an eventful month on my needles.I must say that this has positively been the most exclusive I think I've ever been with my knitting.In retrospect I think that is probably the result of a rare combination of things: just the right balance of freedom and interest from the pattern, an available amount of time for some serious knitting (a luxury!) and a heavy love for the wool involved.Either way, here she is, already for you...

Modifications: When it comes to knitting with Elizabeth Zimmermann, I guess everything is a modification in some sense.Although I guess the word 'modification' implies the presences of a fixed starting point, which we don't have here in Wool Gathering. What we do have, though i a few pages of solid good sense and enough structural advice to get your creative juices flowing.

At the base of this pattern is, of course, EZ's seamless recipe for a saddle shoulder pullover.I've worked many a Zimmermann seamless, but this is the first time I've conquered an official Saddle-Shoulder in its pure form.The fit alone has made me a believer - its a perfect match for those square-shouldered lanky types... ahem.

Of course, it's more than your simple seamless saddle, with a spattering of many a beautiful cable panel and the excitement of that steek - all things that intrigued me to the very end.

I primarily stuck with the cable advice suggested in the pattern - the Sheepsfold Cables (the ribbon-like traveling stitch panel) and the Fishbone Cables are such classic EZ features that I couldn't resist.Not to mention all the garter.Garter glutton here, and proud to admit it.As for the back panel, it's a slight modification that I ripped off from the magnificent Na Craga pattern by Alice Starmore (the combination of these two knitting gurus was enough to make me all aflutter in the designing stages, it's true).It's a basic horseshoe cable ascending up the center with smaller horseshoe cables mirrored on either side and facing the opposite vertical direction.I really love how it turned out (see below).The underarm panels are a combination of the fishbone and the smaller horseshoe. All these panels together with a bunch of twisted stitch (ktbl) dividers strewn about came together in a great way.

A word on the construction sequence: I did your standard formula of body first, two sleeves, unite at underarms and shape yoke until bind off at collar.The Saddle Shoulder formula leaves a rather square-ish neck, I played this down a bit by shaping the back neck with shortrows.This was totally a freeform operation but did serve well to raise the back neck an inch or so, which was exactly what I needed.After I had the major part of knitting out of the way, I wet blocked the whole thing then cut it into its cardigan form (and rambled non-stop about it. Just check my March archives).After all this I went back and picked up stitches along the base of the sweater with a smaller needle (US7) and worked a 2 inch garter stitch band.Rather than start with this way back at the beginning of the sweater, I liked the idea of picking up stitches after blocking (also I was slightly worried about running out of yarn.The garter stitch base was an option I kept open for that reason). Finally, I worked the button band and collar altogether in garter stitch, mitering the corners at the neck. I wet blocked again just for posterity before sewing the buttons on. To answer some of your questions about the facings - I do plan on sewing them down, solely for the sake of a thorough finish, although I haven't done so yet. The photos you see here feature unsewn facings (not pictured, as they're on the inside of the piece).

I really dig doing the buttonband this way.I like changing things up a little with a vertical garter stitch band, and its integration with the collar I think also is a unique quality.Working the buttonband vertically also makes it possible to place the buttonholes exactly where they should go, evenly spaced and all, since you know exactly how many total stitches there are from the very first row.Speaking of buttonholes, have you ever tried EZ's one-row buttonhole (explained in KA and KwoT, and I'm sure others)?This is my first time using this method and I'm completely sold.It's brilliant! (Are you surprised, though? really?)

In closing, I felt I should mention that the completion of this sweater has been met with such a mixed bag of feelings for me.Accomplishment and satisfaction surely are first and foremost... but to be honest I sort of feel like someone died.This is the unfortunate curse that plagues the process knitters of the world I guess - but I am acutely aware of the absence of this sweater in my day-to-day routine now. At this point, on such an involved project I would usually be shouting to the hills in excitement for the freedom to move on. There's some sort of postpartum wool withdrawal happening. I guess when you're really in the zone with Elizabeth and Meg, this is par for the course.

I guess all I can do is go back to the source... give me some more of the good stuff, Liz!

WOW. You should email a link to Schoolhouse Press. Your photos and your knitting really sell the sweater!!! Well done!! I think this sweater is the coolest thing you've done yet and I'm already a fan. :-) Good luck with the postpartum wool withdrawal. Maybe some silk or soft cotton would help you transition - you know, take your mind off of Skye Tweed? My friend, you definitely need a rebound yarn...

You're a genius. The sweater is so gorgeous, I'm laughing over the "garter glutton" phrase, and am so struck by the excellent fit that I can only stare at the pictures. I'll come back later to read all about the modifications!

Fantastic design and fit Jared - your workmanship is exquisite as always. I'm sure there are more than few of us out here in blog land who are also going to miss your updates on your journey with this gorgeous cardigan.

Positively stunning. Thank you so much for sharing the process, it has been such a pleasure to watch it come to fruition. I share your feelings about the completion of a project -- for me it's like finishing a good book. I want to start over right away, and savor it a little while longer.

Wow, congratulations, it's amazingly beautiful! Jaw-dropping. And I also wanted to mention how much I love it with the rest of the outfit, the shirt(s) and pants pick up all colors of the tweedy flecks. You rock.

You really are one of the most talented and elegant knitters I know of. Thanks so much for sharing it all. It's lovely work, and perfect for you, Jared. Maybe even tops the paton's sweater, or maybe not. It's hard to say, but I would certainly faint from admiration should I ever stumble across you in person.

I think the finished product turned out magnificently. I too would have withdrawal from completing such a wonderful knit. You always make them look so good too, and I think it is one of your best knits to date. I cant wait to see what your next design will be too.

Having never undertaken something of this magnitude (and really, even if I had), I can only sit here, mouth agape.... It's truly lovely. The yarn, even in pictures, is perfect and the photos are art in and of themselves. Bravo.

What a perfect sweater! I've been enjoying seeing you knit it – and now I'm almost sad too to see it finished. But it looks great on you, and I know that the next thing you're gonna knit will be equally gorgeous, so I think I'll survive. :-)

Well, I'll add my kudos to the rest. It's breathtakingly lovely. You shouldn't think of finishing it as a loss, though. Now it can be your comfortably-worn companion as you embark on your next project.

I can only echo everyone else's comments--the sweater is fabulous! Thanks for sharing the process with us, especially the steeking. As for your sadness about finishing, you couldn't feel that loss if the experience hadn't been extraordinary. Enjoy!

There is nothing that I can say that hasn't already been said. That sweater is inspiring and the photography is beautiful. It makes me wonder how a saddle-shoulder will work on a broad-shouldered non-lanky (read: pudgy) type. And it makes me think that I should investigate.

It fits you perfectly, and it looks gorgeous -- wool, cables, button-band, buttons, everything. Thanks for sharing your lovely work! (And yes, I'm totally sold on the one-row buttonholes too. First discovered when I checked "Knitting in the Old Way" out of the local library; never going back.) Terrific job. And best of luck getting over the loss of the project.

Jared, as the consensus of readers have already said, it's truly a beautiful piece of wearable art. Well done to you and on the thoughtful and thought-provoking post wrapping up this project. To be honest, I've not had much experience with EZ projects, but confess I'm feeling the pull now. Hearty congratulations to you!

I have felt that bittersweet emotion when I have finished many projects. The journey is so much of the garment that wearing it, though a great thing to be sure, is a bit of a let down. That is what it is to truly love the process.

It's really beautiful, and I loved hearing your "ramblings" about how you designed and knit the sweater - it was really great to have some pictures and details to go along with EZ'a broad design strokes.

delurking here to say that this is just terrific. We both share such respect and inspiration from EZ and MS, I just had to write to tell you how much your knitting inspires me! And THIS! I completely understand what you mean about the end of a project though. It's like a friend who has moved away.

Amazing. The knit itself is gorgeous and perfect in fit and color and seaming - the whole 9. But the photography is amazing. You take some gorgeous shots on your own but either you're blessed to have a friend available that's just as good as you, or else you're a master of the self-timer. Wonderful.

as a lurker, i can say that i knew the sweater would be fantastic. however i am absolutely blown away by it. the fit is divine, the wool looks incredible, the pattern...wow. this is fantastic. i just showed it to my boyfriend and am pleased to note that he a) agrees with it's fabulousness and b) realises that it will be many years before i knit anything even close to that wonderful.cheers!

Well, you've already had plenty of people give you compliments, but I'll join in. What an absolutely gorgeous sweater! I've really enjoyed reading about the entire process...I think I've wound up marking every one of your posts about this sweater as "keep as new" in my bloglines, because I want to be able to keep coming back to them again and again.

I think you've helped me decide what to do with my birthday money, by the way. More EZ for me!

bravissimo! what a fantastic knit - you did a gorgeous job. i particularly like those ribbony cables on the sides, front and back - they block out beautifully. will have to use those in something soon! enjoy your very well-deserved stunning sweater while the weather is still cold...not that it looks like it will let up anytime soon. ~gabriella

Good lord, that's a nice sweater. You rocked it, and it looks so stylie on you! I particularly like: the back cable panel, the horseshoe and ribbon cable pair, the tweed-y wool, the color and size of the buttons, the garter stitch hems and button band continuing up around the collar (nice touch). I guess I like everything! =)

That sweater is amazing... I really wish my husband would wear a cardigan so I could have an excuse to try my hand at it... alas, I'm not that talented and he would never wear it. Beautiful work, though.

this is immaculate pristine flawless and divine. it is gorgeous. i cannot but think that meg must be an enormously modest person when i think about the picture on the spun out pattern. you must have enjoyed yourself with sleeves coffee and boiling creativity through this process.

How beautiful! As impressed as I am by the completion and actual knitting of this gorgeous sweater, I am almost as impressed by your ability to style it so well, and choose a pattern that suits you so well. Congrats!!

jared, this is absolutely stunning. what a beautiful beautiful piece... so well done and it looks great on you. i am utterly inspired (and i've got a big sweater's worth of that exact yarn in my stash...)congratulations on an amazing sweater!!

it is not only how gorgeous the new cardigan is...but a combination of the model too. one of my girlfriend's who knits rang me up oneday specifically to tell me that for a male you really know how to wear knitwear well! she only wished her fiance would exhibit the same panache and sense of style.

Honestly, this is the first time I've been brought so close to tears by a finished piece of knitting. It is truly a work of art in its purest form. If you have not yet entertained the idea of writing a book, start now.

I feel a little faint! It's completely stunning. I love what you did with the center back panel--making the middle cable just a bit bigger than the cables that flank it was an inspired touch. If I ever knit Na Craga, I'll borrow that modification from you. :-)

And the fit--wow! You're really good at making a garment fit well. It looks amazing on you.

that post is better than sunday morning do-nuts and coffee. i love it and am fantasizing about making one...the cables look like pure delights. i have a suggestion...i would love to 'watch' you knit a hand-to-hand aran.

I just started knitting in October and have been tackling techniques as fast as I can. I haven't yet read any EZ or knit any cables (though I have a cabled afghan on the schedule for September). You have definitely inspired me to borrow some EZ from the library at least.

Very striking sweater. I keep wishing my dad wore sweaters because I keep seeing men's sweaters I would love to knit. This would definitely top that list.

what a beauty! it's been great following your progress on this and the final product does not disappoint the slightest. i can see why you're feeling a sense of loss now that it's done, but, as i'm sure you know, there's plenty of fish to be knitted in the sea ;-)

Gurimallajegtrorjegdåner... Nothing like a finished object like that to make all your lurkers come out and comment.It is a work of art, man!And as always, the photography is awsome. (Is that a ponytail we (don't)see?)

absolutely stunning. the color, the fit, everything...I can totally identify with you on missing knitting on it - I finished my colorwork socks and now really miss the time I used to spend knitting on them - i guess that means the project was a process as well as product knit! a rare combination!

Absolutely perfect. I have a question. I remember once you said that you ironed your knits to block them. Do you actually touch the iron to the fabric, or let it hover over the fabric? your final fabric always looks so perfect and I was just wondering.

You are being referred to as McTweedy in someone elses comments - and I have to agree! The sweater is beautiful. I don't think I'd even have one sleeve done in the time you got the whole thing finished.

You always do great work. My dad was just telling me that he would love to have a knit button-up vest of some kind. Immediately I thought of you (because he was mentioning it be tweedy and grayish and not too loud-he said something about how (if he was going to wear something so loud) he might as well make a basket and wear that) Anyway, do you have any good ideas of where to find patterns for a simply styled vest? (he liked the look of Jarrett)

There is something quite breathtakingly assured and confident about this piece of knitting which transcends a simple craft. It's a wonderful expression of creativity and a quite beautiful piece of knitting. You must be proud of your skills.

Everytime you post a new sweater FO, I don't think you'll be able to top it again, but you prove me wrong each and every time! I'm not sure that made any sense, but basically I'm trying to say - Beautiful sweater! :)